The Shakti Shine - June 15, 2020
Shakti Love Notes
We are always growing. I love that! And the more I grow, the more I recognize how important it is for us all to share what we're going through-- even (and especially) me.
So these Love Notes are a space for me to share with you each week-- about the studio, my life, how our community is growing.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what yoga has taught me.
Why am I still here in this practice? What are the biggest lessons? Why do I keep coming back? What is it about yoga that resonates?
And then I realized— That’s it.
Yoga has taught me to ask questions.
𝗬𝗼𝗴𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.
I was listening to the podcast posted in this week's Weekly Work (below) and one of my biggest takeaways was the way they talked about relationship.
There’s a way we go about relationships that is transactional— there’s an agenda, a list, a set of niceties, a goal in mind.
I think about my relationship with my body before yoga— totally transactional. If I eat this, then this. If I move in this way, then this.
Or in my life relationships— if they ask this, then I say this. If this topic comes up, then I do this.
Everything was compartmentalized, organized and I was running with 13 excel spreadsheet tabs open in my brain at any given time.
(𝘗𝘚 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘣𝘺-𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴-𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰-𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘺-𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘮)
BUT THERE’S ANOTHER WAY~
There’s a way to go about relationships that is transformational. TRANSFORMATIONAL.
This way looks like:
Listening
Slowing Down
Kindness
Care
Compassion
Reverence and Honor
Grounded in Values
Not Needing to be Right
A Yes for Getting Present to What’s Present
Asking Questions
Asking Questions
Asking Questions
My yoga practice has led me to invest in transformational relationship, with myself and others, including my relationship to the culture and practice of yoga (𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘵𝘸).
This transformational approach says: ask questions. Ask the hard questions. Ask the deep questions. Ask the same questions again and again.
Get so curious that you’re always asking questions!
Asking questions is the ultimate work of yoga-- Go inside. What's there?
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Some questions I’ve been asking:
+ What are my personal values? Am I transparent about them? Where do I leave them hidden? What's the effect of that?
+ What am I committed to?
+ Do the businesses I support have a practice of clear & transparent values? Can I witness the ways in which they honor those values? Is that where I want to put my money?
+ How am I leveraging my gifts, talents, privilege & power to make the biggest impact? What's missing?
+ Am I showing up? How am I showing up? Is it how I want to be showing up?
+ Where is my identity (cis-hetero-white-etc) getting in my way? What are my blind spots? How could that be causing harm to others?
+ Am I sharing this to get attention or be seen a certain way or am I sharing this as an act of deep responsibility?
+ What am I most afraid of when it comes to living into my values & commitments?
+ Who is effected by my actions? Who else?
+ What kind of world do I want to live in? What’s possible in a reimagined world?
+ How am I taking care of myself? What do I need?
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What questions are you asking yourself? Reply to share <3
xx
Ruby
*schedule changes this week*
We will have 1 class per day Thursday - Saturday this week
~ Ruby, Maggie & Emily are taking a short break & will be tuning in with you from the beach ~
This means there will NOT be an In Person class on 6/20
Make sure to sign up for class on Mindbody, and remember that with On Demand you can take classes until midnight of the next day.
Reply to this email if you have any questions!
The Weekly Work
This is where we bring yoga off the mat together
1. Listen to this podcast on Race and Resilience with Michelle Johnson & Kerri Kelly, hosted by Layla Saad
2. Read about the 50/10 Plan to Reimagine Public Safety in Athens-Clarke County, a budget proposal by Commissioners Mariah Parker and Tim Denson for the Fiscal Year 2021 budget. The budget vote will be held on Tuesday, June 16.
3. Donate to Southern Fried Queer Pride to Fund a Black, Queer owned community space in Atlanta!
"Southern Fried Queer Pride has always had in our mission the goal to establish a Black owned queer community space/center. A place for organizing, supplying resources, arts and culture, and so much more. QTBIPOC do not have many spaces that are affirming and actually inclusive. Community centers can play a direct role in providing safe, affirming spaces for Black and brown queer and trans folks, young people, disabled folks, and others marginalized by systemic injustice and lack of infrastructure to thrive. We want to build a space where people have the freedom to grow as individuals, artists, and organizers. With your help, we can make this a reality and provide Atlanta and the South with a space we so rightly deserve!"
June theme w/ the Duality Project:
P R E S E N C E
Presence is really just the simple art of paying kind attention. Presence is non-judgmental. Presence is open. Presence is acceptance.
This workshop includes:
CONNECT:
An overview of the theme
30 written notes of inspiration from Ruby & Kate about this month’s theme
MOVE:
1 movement video w/ Kate
1 movement video w/ Ruby
GROW:
1 guided meditation
12 inquiry questions to take you deeper into the theme week to week
JOIN US FOR TEACHER TRAINING
"Shakti's teacher training was life changing. While the training was difficult and rigorous, it was also so rewarding. Ruby leads with passion, consistency, integrity, joy, and so much more. I have grown exponentially more than I ever thought I would. The friendships I have made have been essential in my completing TT and growing as an individual.
If you are considering this training, do it!
If you allow it, it'll change your life."
- BLAIR